Typograph mechanism.



W. A. READE & F. METCALF.

' TYPOGRAPQH MECHANISM;

APPLlCATlON FILED APR. 12, I915.

- To all whom it may concern UNITED STA TES PATENT o WILLIAM A. READEAND FREDERICK METCALF; OF CLEVELAND, OHI EO, ASSIGNORS TO LUDLOWTYPOGRAPH COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

Be it known that we, WILLIAM and FREDERICK METOALF, citizens of theUnited States, and residents of. Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State ofOhio, have jointly invented a new and useful Improvement'in TypographMechanisms, of which the following is a specification, the principle ofthe invention being herein explained and the best mode in which we havecontemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from otherinventions.

The present improved typograph mechanism is designed more particularlyfor easting slugs or type-bars having an upper enlarged portion bearingthe type-characters in order to permit the casting of slugs for printinghead-lines and advertisements.

- Heretofore linotype and similar type-bars have been practicallylimited to' the printing of the smaller type sizes known as body type,such as are used for ordinary reading matter, and it has been necessaryto main tain a stock of sorts of such larger or display type in order toenable the printer to set up head-lines and display work in general.

By making aslug, however, with an enlarged upper portion, thereby givingsuch slug either a T-shape or L-shape in cross section, we have foundthat characters of the largest size used in printing work may be cast onslugs, and thus with a single font of type matrices permit any amountofthis sort of work to be set up. In casting slugsof this kind, owingtothe 'size of the characters,

some difliculty isencountered where a series of slugs are to beassembled end-on in the form to make up a line of greater than columnwidth'because of the breaks occurring between successive slugs. Thissame difliculty of course occurs, to a noticeable degree, in setting upordinary linotype work, where the slugs are joined end-on in the fashionjust described, it being impossible by the prevailing methodsand withany-machines now on the market, to secure uniform spacing through theentire length of the line, since the successive slugs have to be set andjustified separately.

The present improved mechanism acoord ingly has as its object theprovision of means for casting slugs, by means of which a lineSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 16, 191 7.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,607.

of type, and particularly a line of such large particularly pointed out.in the claims, it

being understood that the method aspect of the invention forms thesubject matter of a separate application filed December 15, 1916, SerialNo. 137,139.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings :Figure 1 is a plan View of a typograph machineembodying our present improvements; Fig. 2 is a cross-section of thesame taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a broken plan viewcorresponding to Fig. 1, but showing the parts in a different operativeposition;

Fig. 4: is a sectional view of the same corresponding to the section ofFig, 2; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view with parts broken away andshown in section, of the aforesaid mechanism; Figs. 6 and 7 are sideelevations of two slugs or type-bars cast with the mechanism as arrangedin Figs. 2 and 4, respectively; Fig. 8 is an end elevation Jf such aslug; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a matrix bar with acharacter-impression; and Fig. 10 is a similar view of a blank matrixbar. 5

The casting mechanism proper forms no part of the present invention, thegeneral features thereof being the same as those shown and described inthe co-pending apmold 1 supported so as to be capable of ver-' ticalmovement downward from the casting; position shown in Fig. 5 to aposition which will permit of the ejection of the slu Cooperative withsuch mold in the atters casting lposition is'a casting pot, of whichonly thenozzle 2 is shown, such p'ot being supported so as to permit thenozzle to be moved entirely out of the path of movement of the mold justdescribed, and including suitable means (not shown) whereby the moltenmetal may be forced into the casting slot 4 in the mold when the latteris in proper position, as will be readily under- .stood. The end of thenozzle is provided with a squirt-plate 3 of the usual construction,which comes into direct contact with the under side of the 'mold, theslot in the latterbeing of such forun'and dimensions as to serve as amold for a slug body 'of the desired length and width.

In its casting position the mold registers with, or rather lies in, anopening 5 in the horizontally extending top 6 of the general machineframe, so as to be substantially flush with the upper surface of suchtop, or

rather with the surface of a trough-like depression 7 extendingtransversely across the same from the front to the rear as shown inFig. 1. Associated with the mold, so as tobe carried therewith in itsvertical movement,.

is a trimming knife or blade 8 in the form ofa slide, such slidabletrimmer being retracted in the casting position of the mold,

as shown in Figi 5, and being capable of being thereupon advanced acrossthe casting slot in such mold, after the nozzle of the casting pot hasbeen withdrawn.

The extent and form of the table top 6 are I the operator and the partsof the machine gases arising from the casting pot.

supported on the top, from the heat and Disposed alongside the trough ordepression 7 in the .top, designed to recelve the matrix holders, asalready set forth, is'a guide 9 that extends substantially to theopening 5 wherewith the mold registers inits casting position. Adjacentone side of such opening is a stop block 10 adjustably fixed to the 7table by means of set-screws 11 and clampscrews 12, as will be readilyunderstood; while adj acent-the opposite side of the opening is apresser footl3, movably held in the forward end of a slide 14, acompression spring 15 being interposed between such foot and slide so asto afford a resilient backing for. the former. Oscillatorily mountedupon said "slide about a transverse pivot 16 is a lever 17 the forwardend of which projects over the opening 5 in the table and carries a bar18 alined with such opening, said bar being pivotally securedto thefront end of said ever by a pin 19 so as to be adapted to pressuniformly on the backs of the assem- 1,212,eso

bled matrices inthe holder, as willbe presently explained. .To furtherassist in secur ing uniformcontact with said matrices, the under side ofthis clamp-bar is rounded 0E transversely as shown in Fig. 5.

A handled lever 20, pivotally mounted on the top 6 about an axis 21,transverse to the direction of movement of the slide 14, is connectedwith the latter by means of a link 22 so that said slide, with thepresser foot '13, will be moved forwardly, that is to the right as shownin said Fig. 5, when said handled lever is depressed. The forward endoflink 22 projects beneath the rear end of the lever 17 that carriesclamp-bar 18, a

.set-screw 23 in such lever-end contacting with such projecting portionwhen the link is oscillated incidental to the depression of the handlever, the effect of such engagement being obviously to depress theclamp-bar. A flat leaf spring 24 under the forward end of the lever 17normally holds such clampbar in inoperative position, while acompression spring 25 is similarly provided to normally raise thehandled lever and thus retract the slide and presser foot carriedthereby. In this condition of parts the matrix holder 26 shown incomplete plan view in Fig. v1, in longitudinal vertical section in Figs.2 and 4c, and in transverse vertical section in Fig. 5, is adapted to beinserted 'between the fixed stop 10 and such presser foot, such holderbeing conveniently moved along'the trough or depression 7 in the tabletop in engagement with the guide 9 into such desired position. The exactlongitudinal location of the holder is determined by means .of a stopblock 27 that projects over such trough so as to engage the rear end ofthe holder in its initial position and one or the other of a series ofnotches 28 in the side of such holder in successive positions of thesame, as will be presently described.

As shown-in the figures last referred to, the holder in its preferredstructural form comprises two end pieces 29 secured to side members 30,which latter are long enough to provide an opening somewhat larger thanthe aggregate length of a plurality of slugs of the kind which it isdesired to cast, which in the casein hand has been assumed to be fifteenems. Slidably secured between the side members 30 at one end of theholder is a clamp member, or block 31, that is engaged by the threadedportion of a screw 32 rotatably secured in the adjacent end piece 29 andprovided with a knurled head, by rotating which said block can obviouslybe advanced or retracted to clamp the assembled matrices, or matrix bars33, as they may be termed to distinguish them from the impressions 34:of the type-characters which constitute the matrices proper. These barsare of thegeneral form illustrated ,in Fig. 9, being in effect plates orblocks of uniform length and height, but of varying width to accommodatecharacter-impressions of correspondingly varying width. The latter arestruck or driven in the bottoms of recesses cut in what may be calledthe lower edges of the bars, these recesses comprising a portion 35having a width and depth prescribed which it is desired the head of theslug 36 (Fig. 8) should have, it being understood that the depth of suchhead, plus the depth of the body portion of the slug, should equal theheight of ordinary slugs as commercially made, so that both kinds ofslugs can be used in the same form if desired. In addition to the mainrecess portion 35 a supplemental recess 37 is formed, where thecharacter is of less extent than such main recess, to receive thecharacterimpression 34, the object beingto have the molded character 38formed by the matrix on the slug, on an entablature 39 of as limitedextent as possible in order to prevent smearing of the printed sheet byink carried on the blank face of the slug.

The upper portions of the matrices project laterally in the form of ears40 which are adapted to rest on the side pieces 30 of the holder,leaving the bodies of the matrices depend between and some distancebelow such side pieces, as shown in Fig. 5. In order to facilitate theinsertion of the matrices in the holder, the inner faces of such sidepieces are slightly beveled or flared, a close fit, however, beingsecured between their lower edges and the matrix bars so as to insurethe correct alinement of the latter in a horizontal plane.

In so far as the foregoing features of construction are described in theco-pending application of William A. Reade, filed June 19, 1915, SerialNo. 35,070, no claim is herein made to such features. such co-pendingapplication, however, provision is made for setting up a compositematrix adapted to cast but a single slug, whereas in the presentconstruction of machine, by providing an elongated holder 26 equalingthe aggregate length of a plurality of slugs, it is possible to set upin such holder a series of composite matrices, from which impressionscan be taken, or slugs cast, one after the other, by simply moving theholder lengthwise across the top of the table and clamping it down, aswill be presently described.

In setting up the individual matrix bars in the holder in order to formsuccessive composite matrices, the spaces between words, or at the endsof lines, are formed by the use of blank matrix bars 45 of the kindillustrated in Fig. 10, which leave the cast slug with the correspondingportions 46 of its head cut away, as it were (see Figs. 6 and 7 Theblank matrices used for this purpose will of course be of varying widthsso In the machine of as to permit of the formation of spaces in theslugs having different lengths, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In additionto blank matrix bars of this kind, a series of blank bars 7 areprovided, all of the same width, which will preferably be two ems in thecase assumed above for the purpose of illustration, one being requiredfor use between each successive composite matrix in the holder. Thelatter has one of its sides 30 provided with graduations 48 in ems andhas the other marked off by division lines 49 into spaces equal to thelength of the slug body which is to be cast, namely, fifteen ems in theassumed instance.

The notches 28 on the side of the holder, which are arranged to engagethe end stop 27, in the successive positions of such holder, will thenbe spaced, seventeen ems apart, the first notchbeing also seventeen emsfrom the end of the holder which first abuts against such stop. Inassembling the matrix bars 33 and 45 to form a line of type, it willthen be a matter of indifference whether or not the last bar of thefirst group is exactly equal to fifteen ems, for the recess in such barmay be allowed to project beyond the end of the mold slot as shown atthe righthand end of the mold in Fig. 2, or it may stop short of theend. of the mold as shown at the left of the latter in Fig. 4. In eitherevent, between such matrix bar and the group forming the next compositematrix, one of the two-em blanks 4:7 is interposed as shown in saidFigs. 2 and 4. The result is that when the holder is advanced from itsfirst casting position to its second, unless a space happens to comebetween the first and second group of matrices, the latter .will eitherstop short of, or extend beyond, the left end of the mold in a fashioncomplementary to that just described, and the upper enlarged portion ofthe one slug will terminate short of the end of said slug while suchenlarged portion of the other slug will project a corresponding amount,as shown in the case of the juxtaposed ends of the slugs 36 in Figs. 6and 7. l

As a result of the foregoing construction it is possible to justify theline of assembled matr1ces at once and thus to secure uniform spacingthereof throughout the entire length of the holder 26. Furthermore, whenthe finished slugs are gathered together in the formthey will obviouslyprovide a continuous line of type without any unnecessary or forcedspaces such as have always hereto fore characterized this kind of work,even in the case of the smaller fonts of type in which the upper portionof the slug bearing the type characters is no wider than the body of theslug. It will be readily apparent, in

other words, that the foregoing improved construction of typographmechanism is readily adapted for use in casting slugs for lines ofgreater length than the slot in the standard mold, irrespective of theface or type being used;

The generalmode of operation of ourimproved machine has been in effectset forth incidentally to the description given of the construction ofits various component parts. The length of the holder 26 used will, ofcourse, aside from the condition of convenience in handling, depend onthe total length of line which it is desired to set up with the slugs.Assuming the length of such line to be equal to six slugs, or, in otherwords, to six ordinary columns, an equal number of composite matriceswill be formed by placing the selected matrix bars 33 and 45 in theholder with a bar or floating divi By depressing handled lever 20, bothsaid presser foot and the clamp bar 18 are actuated to securely hold thefirst group of matrices in properly alined condition against the upperface of mold 1. By forcing the molten metal into the slot in such moldand the recesses of the matrices, a slug is formed, which is thereupontrimmed, and, after the mold has been lowered away, ejected.

Upon the mold being restored to casting position the holder, havingfirst been released from the clamping mechanism b raising-handled lever20, is advanced untll the first notch 28 engages the end-stop 27.Thereupon a second slug may be cast in just the same manner as before,the operation bein repeated until the last group of assemli led matriceshas been reached.

As previously explained, it is necessary to give attention to the matterof justification only once in connection with the entire line, since allof the slugs otherwise fit together to form a continuous line. Thedifliculty heretofore encountered in setting up linotype in lines longerthan theindividual slugs is hence entirely overcome, it being possibleto have all of the spaces in the line be, or appear to be, of uniformwidth. It will be understood of course that owing to varying lengths ofwords and widths of characters, the width of the space will vary,

all this being taken into account, if the justification is to beeffective and satisfactory. Much resetting is saved over the procedurewhere a line no longer than the slug can be cast.

Furthermore, when a wide letter comes at the end of a slug, so that itcan be accommodated only by providing an overhang, the

6 length of such overhang need not be measimaeeo Y ured in order to,properly indent the next slug, but such overhan is automaticallycompensated for b the indentation of such followin slug. uch cutting andtrying is thus avolded, it being sometimes diflicult to find a space, orblank matrix that will exactly complement a particular overhang.

Finally, the casting of the successive slugs is very much facilitated bythe use of a long holder capable of accommodating a pliirality of groupsof the individual detached matrix bars, since such holder does notrequire to be removed and another inserted in its place for eachoperation of the casting mechanism, but such holder needs merely to beadvanced from one position to the next across the supporting table.

In referring to the matrix bars hereinbefore, as well as in thefollowing claims, it

will be understood that we use this term to distinguish from the specialdivision bars which form a feature of the present invention. Suchmatrix-bars may, accordingly, bear any of the characters found in anyfont, or may be simple blank bars, such as are used for spacing.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed. We thereforeparticularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention 1. In atypograph machine, the combination of slug-casting mechanism; a set ofdetached matrix-bars; an independent member arranged to receive and holdin selected relation a sufficient number of said bars to form aplurality of composite matrices apart from, but respectively adapted tocooperate with, said casting mechanism; and means adapted to locate saidmember with a desired group of bars in proper relation to said castingmechanism.

. 2. In a typograph machine, the combination ofv slug-casting mechanismincluding a mold formed with a casting slot; a set of detachedmatrix-bars; an independent mem ber arranged to receive and hold inselected relation a suflicient number of said bars to form aplurality ofcomposite matrices apart from, but respectively adapted to cooperatewith said mold; and means adapted to locate said member with a desiredgroup of llltl) from, but respectively adapted to cooperate with saidmold; means adapted to locate said member with a desired group of barsproperly alined with the slot in said mold; and means adapted to clampsuch group of bars, thus held, against said mold.-

4. In a typograph machine,'the combination of slug-castlng mechanismadapted to cast a slug or type-bar of predetermined length; a set ofdetached matrix-bars of various widths corresponding with the charactersthereon; an independent member arranged to receive and holdin selectedrelation a sufficient number of said bars to form a plurality ofcomposite matrices apart from, but respectively adapted to cooperatewith said mold; and blank division bars adapted to be inserted betweensuccessive groups of said matrix-bars in said member.

5. In a typograph machine, the combination of slug-casting mechanismadapted to cast a slug or type-bar of predetermined length; a set ofdetached matrix-bars of various widths corresponding with the charactersthereon; an independent member arranged to receive and hold in selectedrelation a sufiicient number of said bars to form a plurality ofcomposite matrices apart from, but respectively adapted to cooperatewith said mold; and blank division bars adapted to be inserted betweensuccessive groups of said matrix-bars in said member, said division barsbeing all of the same width. v

6. In a typograph machine, the combination of slug-casting mechanismadapted to cast a slug or type-bar of predetermined length; a set ofdetached matrix-bars of various widths corresponding with the charactersthereon; an independent member arranged to receive and hold in selectedrelation a suflicient number of said bars to form a plurality ofcomposite matrices apart from, but respectively adapted to co operatewith said mold; blank division bars, all of the same width, adapted tobe inserted between successive groups of said matrix-bars in saidmember; and means adapted to locate said member in positions over saidmold spaced apart a distance equal to the lengthof the slot in said moldplus the width of such a division bar.

7. In a'typograph machine, the combination of slug-casting mechanismadapted to cast a slug or type-bar of predetermined length; a set ofdetached. matrix-bars of various widths corresponding with thecharacters thereon; an independent member arranged to receive and holdin selected relation a sufficient number of said bars to form aplurality of composite matrices apart from, but respectively. adapted tocooperate with said mold; blank division bars, all of the same width,adapted to be inserted: be-

tween successive groups of said matrix-bars in said member, said memberbeing provided with a series of engaging elements spaced apart adistance equal to the length of the slot in said mold plus the width ofsuch a division bar; and a stop element adapted to engage with therespective elements on said member to locate corresponding groups ofmatrix-bars in cooperative relation with said mold.

8. In a typograph machine, a composite matrix for casting slugsvdesigned to form a line oftype characters of length greater than asingle slug, said matrix comprising a plurality of selected matrix-barsof various widths corresponding with the characters thereon divided intoalined groups of approximately the length of such slug, and a blankdivision bar between each successive group.

9. In a typograph machine, a composite matrix for casting. slugsdesigned to form a. line of type characters of length greater than asingle slug, said matrix comprising a plurality of selected matrix-barsof various widths corresponding with the characters thereon divided intoalined groups of approximately the length of such slug, and a blankdivision bar between each successive group, all of said division barsbeing of the same width.

10. In a typograph machine, a composite matrix for casting slugsdesigned to form a line of type characters of length greater than asingle slug, said matrix comprising a plurality of selected matrix-barsof various widths corresponding with the characters thereon divided intoalined groups of approximately the length of such slug, and a blankdivision bar between each successive group, the aggregate length of suchgroups 12. As an article of manufacture, an inof matrix-bars and blanksbeing a multiple all of said division bars'being of the dependent memberarranged to receive and hold in selected relation a sufiicient number ofdetached matrix-bars to form a plurality of alined composite matrices,said member being provided with a series of locat ng elements spacedapart distances equal to the body-length of the slugs to be formed plusa predetermined additional space.

13. As an article of manufacture, an independent member arranged toreceive and hold in selected relation a sufficient number of detachedmatrix-bars to form a plurality of alined composite matrices, saidmember being provided with a scale and with a series of locatingelements spaced apart distances equal to the body-length of the slugs tobe formed plus a predetermined additional space.

14:. As an article of manufacture, an in-' dependent member arranged toreceive and hold in selected relation a sufiicient number of detachedmatrix-bars to form a plurality of alined composite matrices, saidmember being provided with a scale and With a series of locatingelements respectively adapted to engage a fixed stop, said elementsbeing spaced apart equal to the bodylength of the slugs to be formedplus a predetermined additional space. I

15. As an article of manufacture, an independent member arranged toreceive and hold in selected relation a suflicient number of detachedmatrix-bars to form a plurality of alined composite matrices, saidmember being provided With a scale and With a series of locatingelements respectively adapted to engage a fixed stop, said elementsbeing spaced apart equal to the bodylength of the slugs to be formedplus a uniform additional space.

Signed by us, this 10th day of April,

WILLIAM A. READE. FREDERICK METCALF.

4 Attested by- D. T. DAVIES, J N0. F. OBERLIN.

